The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-19


Here was this man who had been steal.
ing horses and for whose capture $500
was offered, in her own kitchen. Ex-
actly the sum she had been wishing for
the sum that would take her down to
San Francisco to school and help to
make lady of herself And this sum
may be hers if she could in some way
secure this stranger, or somehow keep
him in the house until help arrived.
Help? Why, she hardly needed help.
He was weak and exhausted, and in the
drawer of the kitchen table there was
loaded revolver, which she well knew
how to use.
She came out presently and set the
things before him, bringing also tea.
pot from the stove and pouring for him
a cup of tea. Then she went and sat
down by the window and watched him
furtively as he ate.
In spite of his caution, he had taken
off his hat while he was eating. She
could better see what he was like. 1t
was an almost boyish face, worn but not
wicked, with the curling hair lying in
damp clusters upon his pale brow. In
the hands, small and well shaped, and
in all his motions and manner, she felt
that she could read something of his
story. She had heard before this how
young lads in the east, filled with ro-
mantle notions about western life and
adventure, sometimes left their luxu-
rious homes and found their way out to
the ranches of the Pacific. Perhaps he
was one of these.
As she looked at him, fancying all
this, and realizing the terrible strait he
was in, and the probable dark fate that
was before him, her heart yearned with
true womanly sympathy; and her feel
ing found expression before she was
able to restrain derself
ooh, how could you doit? How could
You do p" she suddenly exclaimed,
her voice quite full of what she felt
He looked up at her in wonder, but
as his eyes met hers he understood her.
81 didn't do it. Upon my honor |
did not" he said. at was that man
Dennis"
Sacramento breathed a great sigh Of
relief. stealing was held in that
section to be crime worse than muir
der, and she was by no means free from
the popular estimate of its grave nature.
"Oh, l am glad of that" cried she,
But" she hesitated, and then went
on doubtfully. But, then, how was ii
Why did you run away?"
at was Dennis doings, their laying
it to me. He did that to clear himself.
And after that you know as well as do
that there would have been no use in
trying to prove myself innocent. They
always hang horse thief first and then
consider his guilt afterwards. / had &c
run to save my life"
'Do you know that there is reward
offered for your capture?" '
81 know that the Regulators are after
me, answered the young fellow, sullen-
ly. "They came pretty near catching
me, too, this noon. 1 just escaped
them and came down the cannon by the
mountain trail. have had hard run
for it, and what with no sleep for "a
hours, am about used up. feel AZ
though l could not 60 another step when
/ saw your house. You you have been
very good tome. l shall never for
get"
"But what are you going to do now?"
interrupted Sacramento. you are nod
safe here"
IL know it, But I threw them Of
the track this noon, and l do not think
they are within five miles of me. Now,
L have had something to eat. / will
take to the woods again. I hope may
get clear away. If l don't" his voice
trembled and tears came into his eyes
"If 1 don't shall get a hanging,
I suppose. Oh, what fool I was not
to prefer home to this sort of thingi
And yet, wouldn't care much, either,
if it wasn't for my father and mother"
And there the poor fellow fairly broke
down.
"hark!" Sacramento exclaimed.
She had been crying, too; she could
not help it,
They both listened. In a moment
they heard plainly the sound of horses
coming down the trail. The girl turned
with instant self-possession.
"Go in therel Quick Quick There
is not n moment to losel Here take
your hatl"
And handing his hat to him, she
pushed him across the room and into
her own little room that led off from it.
Then she burriedly cleared the table
again, barely finishing the task as the
hersemen halted at the door
There we're three Of them. One was
her father. Sacramento knew the 9th.
er two men by sight. They we're rough,
but of the better sort Of those VIII,
made up the jewellers Of Kelly Gulch.
The faces Of all three were stern
and forbidding, and they evidently had